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Whitehaven prop Mullally to face England Knights

Towering prop Anthony Mullally hopes his winning debut for Whitehaven has left him ready to make his mark for Ireland against England Knights today (4.15pm).

Anthony Mullally

The 20-year-old had not played for several weeks before joining Haven for the rest of the season on loan from Super League Widnes Vikings.

But he impressed with a powerful second-half display in last weekend’s 34-18 win over South Wales, in which the visitors were held scoreless after the break.

And he is now primed for his first appearance for the Irish after being named in a 19-strong squad.

“It’s a great honour for me, and a privilege,” said Mullally, who made nine top-flight appearances for Widnes earlier this term.

“My granddad is Irish and we go there every year. It’s a great opportunity. England Knights have a very good team and we have to turn up.

“It will be a quick game and hopefully I’m ready for the challenge. I’m in the squad and hopefully I’ll be in the team.”

He is one of 11 players attached to Super League clubs in the Ireland squad, skippered by Featherstone’s Liam Finn.

Mullally believes there is better to come from him at Haven once he settles in at the club.

“I hadn’t played for about three weeks, so it was good to get my first blowout. It was my first game and I was still getting used to the lads. As soon as I get in the swing of things I will really kick on,” he said.

“For one reason or another I’m not in the Widnes team, as I was in the first-half of the season, and I just want to play.”

The Ireland game will be a curtain-raiser to England’s clash with the Exiles at St Helens, in which west Cumbrian Lee Mossop will make his senior debut off the bench.

“When I first set off playing for Hensingham, my dream was to play for Wigan and, when you get to 15 or 16 you start watching your idols play,” said the 23-year-old, who is relishing the chance to play alongside fellow prop and England skipper Jamie Peacock.

“I’ve watched Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley for years now. Jamie’s been a big idol of mine and to be training alongside him and picking stuff up off him is a massive honour.”